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Quick Resources
For those times you want
to do some research.
38 U.S. Code § 101 - Definitions
Alvin L. Young Collection on Agent Orange
Veterans' Disability Compensation:
A Web-Based Database of CIA Declassified
The Court of Appeals For Veterans Claims...The CAVC
The Board of Veterans Appeals...the BVA
USA dot Gov Military & Veterans
Obtaining Military Records and Medals
Veteran Definitions & Concepts
This is your one-stop spot
for required forms!
The Forms
Beginning 2015 everything has its form!
Notice of Disagreement (NOD)
Application for DIC, Death Pension,
and/or Accrued Benefits
Disability Service Connection
Secondary Service Connection • Increased Disability Compensation • Temporary Total Disability Rating
Individual Unemployability
Compensation under 38 U.S.C. 1151
Special Monthly Compensation
Specially Adapted Housing/Special Home Adaptation Automobile Allowance/Adaptive Equipment
Benefits Based on a Veteran's Seriously Disabled Child
Intent To File a Claim For Compensation, Pension, Survivors Pension, Or Other Benefits
The 21-0966 can't be used until
03/24/2015
The VA Claims Intake Centers
These are the places you'll mail
or fax forms and evidence to:
Western Region
Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 5235
Janesville, WI 53547-5235
Toll Free FAX Janesville – 844-822-5246
Eastern Region
Department of Veterans Affairs
PO Box 5235
Newnan, GA 30271-0020
Toll Free Fax Newnan – 844-531-7817
File Your Claim On-Line
Disability Benefits Questionnaires (DBQ's)
"Declaration of Status of Dependents"
VA hospital land price probe unresolved
A year after two members of Congress asked for an investigation into the appraisal
price of the planned Brownsboro Road VA Medical Center site, there has been
no response and opponents are launching an 11th-hour appeal to
persuade Veterans Affairs officials to pick another site.
Jacksonville VA hospital worst among major facilities in country for wait times
More patients wait 30 days or longer for appointments at the Jacksonville Veterans
Administration Outpatient Clinic than at any other major facility in the country,
according to data the VA began making public on individual clinics in November.
Vets not impressed with VA reforms
A group of lawmakers and policy activists called for an overhaul of the way the
Department of Veterans Affairs delivers healthcare Thursday, arguing the VA
should let veterans decide whether to get health care from the private sector.
'American Sniper' Killer Will Appeal
Attorneys for the man who murdered "American Sniper" Chris Kyle and his friend
Chad Littlefield said they will appeal the verdict because their client
Eddie Ray Routh couldn't get a fair trial in a small town.
McDonald Tells Congress VA Will Not Completely Privatize Health Care
Veterans Affairs Department Secretary Bob McDonald told lawmakers on Thursday he has no plans to grow the agency's payroll or bureaucracy, or to completely privatize VA health care.
Available on Amazon
The New Claims Intake Centers (CICs)
Your VA regional office (VARO) is no longer the place to send your claims!
If you are western region, mail claims to;
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center
PO Box 5235 Janesville, WI 53547-5235
Better yet, fax it toll free to;
FAX Janesville – 844-822-5246
If you are eastern region, mail claims to;
Department of Veterans Affairs Claims Intake Center
PO Box 5235 Newnan, GA 30271-0020
Even better,
Fax Newnan – 844-531-7817
If you mail claims or evidence, use certified mail only!
For the best service, use the eBenefits site.
VA employee reforms, good or not, could be road map for other agencies
Miller said he hopes his colleagues use his legislation “as a template to look
into other agencies within the federal government.”
'Realities of war': High school students collecting narratives of Vietnam veterans
Auburn High School history students are looking beyond the
textbooks to learn about the Vietnam War firsthand.
A Disease Doctors Refuse to See
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Needs Effective Treatments
A Closer Look at the “Intent to File a Claim” Process
Gregory M. Rada
Veterans Law Attorney
VA’s new “intent to file a claim” process which replaces the current informal claim process
on March 25, 2015. I'll take a closer look at the specifics of the new claims filing
process and how it can determine the effective date of a claim.
An intent to file a claim differs from the informal claim process in two important respects.
First, an intent to file a claim must be submitted in the VA’s designated format.
Second, an intent to file a claim does not need to identify the particular medical condition
on which the claim will ultimately be based. This means a veteran can submit an intent to
file a claim and then research and decide which actual claims to bring. As long as the
claim is completed within 1 year of the intent to file a claim, each medical
condition contained in the final completed claim will be assigned an effective
date equal to the date of submission of the intent to file a claim.
You can submit an intent to file a claim for benefits electronically, orally, or by completing
VA Form 21-0966. To submit an intent to file a claim electronically, you must start and
save an application for benefits in the VA’s electronic claims system
(currently eBenefits). The date the electronic application is first saved then
serves as the effective date of the claim as long as fully completed application
is submitted within 1 year. If not, the date the VA electronically receives
the completed claim will serve as the date of claim.
To submit an intent to file a claim orally, a veteran can call a VA call center or
talk in-person with a designated VA employee. The employee will record the
intent to file a claim on VA Form 21-0966. It’s important to note that VA will only
accept an oral intent to file a claim if the conversation is documented by the VA employee. Thus, it’s important to ask the VA to send you a copy of the VA Form 21-0966.
Finally, a claimant can submit an intent to file a claim by completing VA Form 21-0966.
This is VA’s new proposed form designed specifically for the intent to file a claim process.
The form has three main components: (1) a checkbox to indicate an intent to file
a claim for compensation, pension, or survivors benefits; (2) a section for
identification information; and (3) a signature and date block.
Overall, the important takeaway is to make sure you submit an intent to file a
claim via one of VA’s approved methods, and then to submit your completed
application within a year of that date. This will ensure an effective
date equivalent to the date you filed your intent to file a claim.
Gregory M. Rada
Veterans Law Attorney
Northland veteran's fight for VA benefits heads to Washington, D.C.
He proudly served in the army guard in the 1980s.
Probe finds more scheduling issues at Phoenix VA center
An internal Veterans Affairs investigation identified widespread deficiencies within the radiology department at the Phoenix VA hospital, according to a report issued Thursday.
Radiology Scheduling Issues Phoenix VA Health Care System
The VA Office of Inspector General Office of Healthcare Inspections conducted a review to
assess the merit of allegations made by an anonymous complainant regarding
appointment scheduling, staffing, and other administrative issues in the
Radiology Department of the Phoenix VA Health Care System (facility).
Union website blocked by VA’s internet system
The day after the union representing workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs
St. Petersburg Regional Office used its website to announce plans for a
protest against management, the VA’s internet system blocked access to the site.
VA seeks budget help to beat back backlog of disability claims appeals
While VA has made a fair amount of progress dealing with its claims backlog, the appeals
backlog has grown over the past year. It stands today at more than 285,000 and it
takes on average more than 1,000 days to settle an appeals case.
Families, leaders angered by revelations in ex-VA director's appeal case
The Department of Veterans Affairs had hoped to mollify members of Congress and the
families of victims of the Legionnaires’ outbreak at the Veterans Affairs
Pittsburgh Healthcare System when it fired former director Terry Wolf last year.